CHECKLISTS

Posted on June 1, 2018 by randscallawayffm

Timothy and Titus – Inconspicuous Leadership

1 Timothy 5 checklistI am a list maker…even in retirement from my secular work. For me, what doesn’t get listed, doesn’t get done. It is also very rewarding for me to check that item off the list when it is accomplished. The list has a progression of priorities. One task cannot happen until another task is completed. And so life goes with my lists guiding my behavior and productivity.

As I journal each morning in my conversational prayer with God, the Father, His Spirit guides me to make another list that helps me to mature and grow in Him. I am convicted of some of those “fruits of the Spirit” that I have not tended to or cultivated, have ignored or left undone. His Holy Spirit redirects my thoughts and helps me form a list of tasks that will help me improve my behavior. “Keep a close check on yourself”, writes Paul to Timothy. For me, that means to make a spiritual checklist that keeps me in close contact with the will and purpose of our Father, God and helps me to grow closer to Him.

We can do nothing of significance without God. I am convinced that He guides us to all things that are good for our growth and aid our learning about Him and how He works. Paul also gives Timothy sound advice about how to treat those whom God has called to lead with character traits with another list of how to lead. This list still applies to us today. The theme of this episode seems to be; Know God, Know Yourself, Know The Message, Know Your Audience. Our deeds, good and bad, will be evident. Be driven by God’s love in us.

1 Timothy 5, The Message

17-18 Give a bonus to leaders who do a good job, especially the ones who work hard at preaching and teaching. Scripture tells us, “Don’t muzzle a working ox” and “A worker deserves his pay.”

19 Don’t listen to a complaint against a leader that isn’t backed up by two or three responsible witnesses.

20 If anyone falls into sin, call that person on the carpet. Those who are inclined that way will know right off they can’t get by with it.

21-23 God and Jesus and angels all back me up in these instructions. Carry them out without favoritism, without taking sides. Don’t appoint people to church leadership positions too hastily. If a person is involved in some serious sins, you don’t want to become an unwitting accomplice. In any event, keep a close check on yourself. And don’t worry too much about what the critics will say. Go ahead and drink a little wine, for instance; it’s good for your digestion, good medicine for what ails you.

24-25 The sins of some people are blatant and march them right into court. The sins of others don’t show up until much later. The same with good deeds. Some you see right off, but none are hidden forever.

1 Timothy 5 check yourselfLEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE #6: Keep a Close Check on Yourself

Leadership Characteristics –

–Fully rely on God. Trust Him with all you are and all you have. We are His. All we have is His.
–Ask God “if there is anything offensive to you, cleanse me.” as the Psalmist prayed.
–Repent with a heart and mind not wanting to return to the old life.
–Look full into the face of Jesus, our Master, Lord and Savior with laser focus so we know what direction to take next.
–“Keep a close check on yourself.” Avoid, “he did it, I can, too” or “my sin is not as bad as his sin” or “everybody’s doing it” mentality.
–Ask God for wisdom, insight and understanding.
–Allow God’s transformation to continue in our lives.
–Ask God to make your lists of to BE and to DO. HE will prioritize your lists in ways you cannot imagine! Where He guides, He provides help all along the journey.
–Do all in a Spirit of love for God and others.
–Care enough to confront others with God’s love and concern for their spiritual well-being and growth.

Warning   The things on our spiritual check list can never be crossed off because we’ll be working on them our whole lives. By listing we are reminding ourselves of what we need to work on to “keep a close check” on our lives. It is only by The Atonement of Jesus Christ can we accomplish anything of eternal significance.

Dear Heavenly Father,
You have convinced me that we must do spiritual “business” with You each day to improve our being in You. Thank you for helping us on this journey. Thank you for Your Holy Spirit that points out things in our behavior that could cause us to crash…before crashing. Thank you for always being with us, guiding and directing, loving and protecting and challenging us to grow and bear Fruit. Continue to transform me. Transform your church. Transform the world through your church.
In Jesus Name, Amen

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ROARING APPLAUSE FOR GOD!

Posted on June 4, 2026 by randscallawayffm

My husband and I have attended quite a few sporting events because we enjoy the team spirit and the roar of the crowd when the goal is reached!  I love observing the coaches who tenaciously guide their players with planned disciplined tactics that pull each member of the team together to reach the goal!  I also love watching the cheerleaders on the sidelines doing all they can to encourage the players working for a win.  Even the loyal spectators are influenced by all that is going on around them shouts and applause as they watch, hoping for a win!  Of course, the shouts of praise are loudest when their team scores!

“Now turn to page 66 in your hymn book of Psalms today”, for the songwriter is taking time out from all that has happened and is happening in their world at present to simply pause with applause to God for all He has done, is doing, and will do in their lives! 

The Psalmists are the cheerleaders in our lives who encourage our walk and lead us to Truth. God’s Word is God and is His message of Truth.  His Word, was relayed through His prophets and called out leaders first.  Then the Word “made flesh” was Jesus who spoke directly to God and said what God told Him to say and do.  Later, Jesus trained disciples would spread the Good News.  Now, it is up to us for all who believe are called to tell of God’s salvation.

God’s Son, our Coach/Advocate, Jesus Christ gave His life in payment for our sins but not before giving us a specific game plan for life!  “To live is Christ”, shouts the words of Paul, no matter what the circumstances, for it is Christ alone who is the way to God! (See Philippians 1) Our Counselor, God’s Holy Spirit, comes to live in the innermost depths of our being to give us power from God to trust and obey with the end goal of eternal Life!  I love it!  Don’t you?!  We cannot lose with God/Jesus/Holy Spirit!

Therefore, let us pause for applause to Almighty God right now!  And when you see His glory at work throughout this day that He has made for us; pause again to give Him all the honor and praise due Him who is Life!  Yes! and Amen!

Psalm 66, The Message

1-4 All together now—applause for God!
    Sing songs to the tune of his glory,
    set glory to the rhythms of his praise.
Say of God, “We’ve never seen anything like him!”
    When your enemies see you in action,
    they slink off like scolded dogs.
The whole earth falls to its knees—
    it worships you, sings to you,
    can’t stop enjoying your name and fame.

5-6 Take a good look at God’s wonders—
    they’ll take your breath away.
He converted sea to dry land;
    travelers crossed the river on foot.
    Now isn’t that cause for a song?

7 Ever sovereign in his high tower, he keeps
    his eye on the godless nations.
Rebels don’t dare
    raise a finger against him.

8-12 Bless our God, O peoples!
    Give him a thunderous welcome!
Didn’t he set us on the road to life?
    Didn’t he keep us out of the ditch?
He trained us first,
    passed us like silver through refining fires,
Brought us into hardscrabble country,
    pushed us to our very limit,
Road-tested us inside and out,
    took us to hell and back;
Finally he brought us
    to this well-watered place.

13-15 I’m bringing my prizes and presents to your house.
    I’m doing what I said I’d do,
What I solemnly swore I’d do
    that day when I was in so much trouble:
The choicest cuts of meat
    for the sacrificial meal;
Even the fragrance
    of roasted lamb is like a meal!
Or make it an ox
    garnished with goat meat!

16-20 All believers, come here and listen,
    let me tell you what God did for me.
I called out to him with my mouth,
    my tongue shaped the sounds of music.
If I had been cozy with evil,
    the Lord would never have listened.
But he most surely did listen,
    he came on the double when he heard my prayer.
Blessed be God: he didn’t turn a deaf ear,
    he stayed with me, loyal in his love.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

God works continually for our benefit as He declares His glory of sovereignty in and over all He has created.

Our response:  Shouts of praises and unending hallelujahs with unlimited rounds of applause for God alone deserves all our praise!

Lord,

Thank you, thank you, thank you for saving my soul, cleansing my heart, renewing my mind and restoring the joy of you in me and me in you, again this morning.  May all I think, say, and do, by your power working in me, give you glory all day long and into the night!

In Jesus Name, Amen

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ALL CREATION WAS MADE TO PRAISE THE CREATOR!

Posted on June 3, 2026 by randscallawayffm

In the beginning God…God spoke the word that created all we see around us. “Let there be___, and it was!  I read an article recently written by a scientific researcher who stated a “form of sound vibrations” seem to be what prompted creation from the beginning.  This is not surprising to believers, right?! Read in the Word—from the beginning for truth! 

In the beginning was also the Genesis of praise to the God who created all, is in all, and sovereign over all. ALL Creation sings His praise!  “Let the earth rejoice!” writes the Psalmist of praise.  The theme of rejoicing spans several chapters in the Song Book of Psalms. Here is a portion of praise to God;

  • Psalm 97:1: “The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad;
        let the distant shores rejoice.”
  • Psalm 96:9-13: “Worship the Lord in the splendor of his[a] holiness;
        tremble before him, all the earth.
    Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.”
        The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved;
        he will judge the peoples with equity.

Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
    let the sea resound, and all that is in it.
Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them;
    let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.
Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes,
    he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
    and the peoples in his faithfulness.”

God created humans “in His own image” to know Him, love Him back, with expressions of sincere praise and thanksgiving that flow freely from our hearts—a heart like His!  God gave us purpose as His servants to be faithful managers of His creation as caregivers that imitate His generous giving to us!  So, how are we doing?  Are we listening for our cue to love, serve, and worship our Lord with follow through of His purpose?  Are we complainers with the world or contributors of praise to the Creator of the world?

Psalm 65, The Message

1-2 Silence is praise to you,
    Zion-dwelling God,
And also obedience.
    You hear the prayer in it all.

2-8 We all arrive at your doorstep sooner
    or later, loaded with guilt,
Our sins too much for us—
    but you get rid of them once and for all.
Blessed are the chosen! Blessed the guest
    at home in your place!
We expect our fill of good things
    in your house, your heavenly manse.
All your salvation wonders
    are on display in your trophy room.
Earth-Tamer, Ocean-Pourer,
    Mountain-Maker, Hill-Dresser,
Muzzler of sea storm and wave crash,
    of mobs in noisy riot—
Far and wide they’ll come to a stop,
    they’ll stare in awe, in wonder.
Dawn and dusk take turns
    calling, “Come and worship.”

9-13 Oh, visit the earth,
    ask her to join the dance!
Deck her out in spring showers,
    fill the God-River with living water.
Paint the wheat fields golden.
    Creation was made for this!
Drench the plowed fields,
    soak the dirt clods
With rainfall as harrow and rake
    bring her to blossom and fruit.
Snow-crown the peaks with splendor,
    scatter rose petals down your paths,
All through the wild meadows, rose petals.
    Set the hills to dancing,
Dress the canyon walls with live sheep,
    a drape of flax across the valleys.
Let them shout, and shout, and shout!
    Oh, oh, let them sing!

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

This IS Our Father’s World!  We respond with grateful hearts of praise as we enter his gates with thanksgiving for saving our souls and making us whole by His plan of salvation and removal of sins “as far as the east is from the west”, “to be remembered no more!”  This truth alone is cause to praise to our compassionate, loving, faithful God!

David knows it and cannot help but sing about the fact that God is God and we are not.  God is the One and Only who deserves ALL our praise!

Dawn and dusk take turns calling, “Come and worship.”  What a compelling invitation!  Come, even now to worship for Jesus Christ made it possible to walk boldly into the very throne room of God to give Him praise, thanking Him for all He has so generously provided.

Come and worship—daily!

Lord,

When I pray the prayer of David, “let the morning bring word of your unfailing love” …you never disappoint; you provide exactly what I need with the fullness of your peace, hope, and love that cleanses my heart, renews my mind, refreshes my soul, and restores the joy of your salvation at work in me—so others will know you, too. Thank you, thank you, thank you! There is truly no one like you!  I will worship you all day long and into the night with the prompting dawn and dusk!

In Jesus Name, Amen

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PRAISE IS THE ONLY RESPONSE TO GOD’S HELP!

Posted on June 2, 2026 by randscallawayffm

We wake to a new day that the Lord has made once more. How do we respond?  Do we groan as we roll out of bed with heavy thoughts for today’s tasks before us or praise and thank Him for being able to rise up at all?  Truly the God of creation “made this day” to be a day in which we declare His glory not our grumping attitudes for He knows which attitude will “draw all men to Him”!  (Need help? Read Philippians 4)

God is the God over all circumstances in our lives, all the good that flows through us, all the pain we bear from living in an imperfect world where bodies age and grow older but most of all; He is the One who made a Way to remove our sins with the bonus of eternal life! He is still God who guides us over the bumpy path with power and might, step by step, all the days of our lives!  He comes to all whose hearts are committed to Him and ask Him for help and pours out all we need when we need Him most.  God provides over and over again.  He done it before and He’ll do it again!  Why? Because God is Almighty God whose love is unconditional and forever.

David’s enemies’ behaviors cause him to whine, be sad and become weary until he pauses to praise with a song to the One and Only who rescues him time after time.  The end of the last verse, David knows, yet again, Who is in charge and deserves all his praise.

Psalm 64, The Message

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

Listen and help, O God.
    I’m reduced to a whine
And a whimper, obsessed
    with feelings of doomsday.

2-6 Don’t let them find me—
    the conspirators out to get me,
Using their tongues as weapons,
    flinging poison words,
    poison-tipped arrow-words.
They shoot from ambush,
    shoot without warning,
    not caring who they hit.
They keep fit doing calisthenics
    of evil purpose,
They keep lists of the traps
    they’ve secretly set.


They say to each other,
    “No one can catch us,
    no one can detect our perfect crime.”
The Detective detects the mystery
    in the dark of the cellar heart.

7-8 The God of the Arrow shoots!
    They double up in pain,
Fall flat on their faces
    in full view of the grinning crowd.

9-10 Everyone sees it. God’s
    work is the talk of the town.
Be glad, good people! Fly to God!
    Good-hearted people, make praise your habit.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

How we respond depends on whose heart we seek—honestly.  Who is truly our “first love” we rise up to greet each day? Who is the first one we seek for wisdom before doing anything else? Who do we run to when troubles overwhelm us? How honest are we when we speak to Him? Do we hide what is bothering us by covering our quick prayers with flowery, memorized words? Who is the One we go to first when it seems our world is falling apart?  Who gets our praise immediately when peace comes before our problems are solved?  Just how much whine do we offer our Lord each day? (Ouch.) All these questions to ponder might be ways to sort out what is true in our hearts.

A song of our day, “Do it Again” by Elevation Worship and based on God’s Word is playing in my mind as we read and study this morning.  This song always brings me back to Truth.  May this song, along with David’s psalm, be a blessing to you today!

DO IT AGAIN

Walking around these walls
I thought by now they’d fall
But You have never failed me yet

Waiting for change to come
Knowing the battle’s won
For You have never failed me yet

Your promise still stands
Great is Your faithfulness, faithfulness
I’m still in Your hands
This is my confidence
You’ve never failed me yet

I know the night won’t last
Your word will come to pass
My heart will sing Your praise again

Jesus You’re still enough
Keep me within Your love, oh
My heart will sing Your praise again
(Oh, yes, it will)

Your promise still stands
Great is Your faithfulness, faithfulness
I’m still in Your hands
This is my confidence
You’ve never failed

I’ve seen You move, You move the mountains
And I believe I’ll see You do it again
You made a way, where there was no way
And I believe I’ll see You do it again

I’ve seen You move, You move the mountains
And I believe I’ll see You do it again
You made a way, where there was no way
And I believe I’ll see You do it again

I’ve seen You move, You move the mountains
And I believe I’ll see You do it again
You made a way, where there was no way
And I believe I’ll see You do it again
I’ll see You do it again

Your promise still stands
Great is Your faithfulness, faithfulness
I’m still in Your hands
This is my confidence
You’ve never failed…

Source: Musixmatch, Songwriters: Chris Brown / Mack Brock / Steven Furtick / Matt Redman; Do It Again lyrics © Worshiptogether.com Songs, Sixsteps Music, Said And Done Music, Thankyou Music Ltd., Thankyou Music, Thank You Music Ltd., Be Essential Songs, Tunecore Global

Lord,

Thank you for this day that you have made. I will rejoice and be glad in it.  Thank you for saving my soul and making me whole—again.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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GOD NEVER LETS GO OF US!

Posted on June 1, 2026 by randscallawayffm

We attended a church full of praising people yesterday that included God’s message of who He is, what Jesus did for us, with an emphasis on Who is living in all who believe and call on His name.  The Holy Spirit was the topic of the teaching that reminded all of us that God’s Spirit is real, active, and alive, living  inside each one of us who, like David who seeks the heart of God and longs for His Presence. David songs are prose of praise in good times and in those hideous times of being sought like prey of those who wanted to destroy him.  His faith was tested and tried through the entirety of his life.  But like Job, “yet will I trust Him” was the song he sang the loudest and strongest. 

This psalm is for God and tells God that He is all David needs for all the times in his life.  David’s hunger for God is never fully satisfied until God responds to his cries for help, comfort, insight, wisdom, direction, love, mercy, and grace. And God does respond. The greatest faith statement of truth is what David sings in the last lines of his praise; “I hold on to you for dear life, and you hold me steady as a post.” 

True believers in God hold on to God who never lets go of His hold on us!  God loves us too much to leave us hanging, wondering fearfully in panic.  No, God in his mercy and grace leads us by the power of His Holy Spirit living in us, helping us over every obstacle with each step we take with Him.  But we must follow the light of truth who guides us with each step we take!  It is so freeing to live life in faith over fear, ceasing to worry over that which has not happened and may never happen on the path with God, knowing He is sovereign in directing His will, bringing out the best in and through us! Troubles and obstacles will challenge our foothold but like a loving Father, He will never let go of our hand in His.

Psalm 63, The Message

A psalm of David. When he was in the Desert of Judah.

God—you’re my God!
    I can’t get enough of you!
I’ve worked up such hunger and thirst for God,
    traveling across dry and weary deserts.

2-4 So here I am in the place of worship, eyes open,
    drinking in your strength and glory.
In your generous love I am really living at last!
    My lips brim praises like fountains.
I bless you every time I take a breath;
    My arms wave like banners of praise to you.

5-8 I eat my fill of prime rib and gravy;
    I smack my lips. It’s time to shout praises!
If I’m sleepless at midnight,
    I spend the hours in grateful reflection.
Because you’ve always stood up for me,
    I’m free to run and play.
I hold on to you for dear life,
    and you hold me steady as a post.

9-11 Those who are out to get me are marked for doom,
    marked for death, bound for hell.
They’ll die violent deaths;
    jackals will tear them limb from limb.
But the king is glad in God;
    his true friends spread the joy,
While small-minded gossips
    are gagged for good.

“To be able to say “my God” by faith transformed David’s wilderness experience into a worship experience. There in the desert, he was hungry and thirsty, but his deepest desires were spiritual, not physical. With his whole being, body and soul, he yearned for God’s satisfying presence. Just as we have physical senses that are satisfied by God’s creation, so we have spiritual senses (Hebrews 5:14) that can be satisfied only by Christ. He is the bread of life (John 6), and He gives us the water of life by His Spirit (John 4:1–14; 7:37–39; Rev. 22:17). Those who hunger and thirst for spiritual food and drink shall be filled (Matthew 5:6).” –Warren Wiersbe, Wiersbe Study Bible

Oh God, you are My God, and I will every praise YOU! Thank you, thank you, thank you! 

In Jesus Name, Amen

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SOULS AT REST ARE SOULS AT PEACE

Posted on May 30, 2026 by randscallawayffm

I know it is hard to believe for I have struggled with this truth often but that doesn’t mean it isn’t truth.  A soul surrendered to rest in God is a soul who enjoys peace with God no matter what is going on around you, in you, or to you!  It doesn’t matter what you have not done, failed at, or in the middle of wondering what is next?  It doesn’t matter where you are in your walk, God is still right there. Our response is to open our ears and eyes to see our God at work as we listen to His wisdom.  Yes, one who walks with God IS a soul at rest and at peace.

David found this treasure of peace as he writes, “Be still”, let go, listen, and surrender to Him for this is the way to “know God” who IS our rest and peace.  The bonus of peace is the secure foundation that never cracks or dissolves under our feet. God was, is, and always will be God—our firm foundation of salvation, truth, love, mercy, and grace. 

Psalm 62, The Message

For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David.

1-2 God, the one and only—
    I’ll wait as long as he says.
Everything I need comes from him,
    so why not?
He’s solid rock under my feet,
    breathing room for my soul,
An impregnable castle:
    I’m set for life.

3-4 How long will you gang up on me?
    How long will you run with the bullies?
There’s nothing to you, any of you—
    rotten floorboards, worm-eaten rafters,
Anthills plotting to bring down mountains,
    far gone in make-believe.
You talk a good line,
    but every “blessing” breathes a curse.

5-6 God, the one and only—
    I’ll wait as long as he says.
Everything I hope for comes from him,
    so why not?
He’s solid rock under my feet,
    breathing room for my soul,
An impregnable castle:
    I’m set for life.

7-8 My help and glory are in God
    —granite-strength and safe-harbor-God—
So trust him absolutely, people;
    lay your lives on the line for him.
    God is a safe place to be.

9 Man as such is smoke,
    woman as such, a mirage.
Put them together, they’re nothing;
    two times nothing is nothing.

10 And a windfall, if it comes—
    don’t make too much of it.

11 God said this once and for all;
    how many times
Have I heard it repeated?
  “Strength comes
Straight from God.”

12 Love to you, Lord God!
    You pay a fair wage for a good day’s work!

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Life on earth was difficult for David but his response to life depended on God. He found satisfaction only in his relationship with God. God refreshed and fulfilled him.  God loved David because David’s desire was to seek God’s heart with all his heart, mind, and soul as God commanded from the beginning to His people.  David knew that the love of God was the greatest treasure to have and hold.  David desire was to forever be in the presence of God for God is love.

Joy, peace, and fulfillment can only be found in the pursuit a holy, intimate, loving fellowship with God.  God is peace, joy, and real love.  God knows us and knows what we need when we need it most. God, like David sings, is truly all we need.

And what does the LORD require of us for all that He has done for us?  After reading His Word from Genesis to Revelation, we discover that our God who created us, knows us by name, delights in all the details of our lives, rescues and delivers us from evil, then puts us on the solid rock of His salvation by His loving sacrifice; want us to simply and forever love Him back! 

How could it be so simple?  Because we are simple and God knows that!  “We love Him because He first loved us”, John the beloved disciple explains. God had to teach us what His love is which is like no other love in the world we live.  God doesn’t just love us; He is love. “To know love is to know God for God is love”, John teaches. John a fisherman by trade, called of Jesus to follow Him daily, leaned in to talk and listen; trust and obey. Imagine waking each day fully surrendered to the Son of Man/Son of God who called you to follow Him and see the miracles of God in Jesus!  Imagine walking and talking down dusty roads, encountering all kinds of people, side by side with the Way, Truth and Life.  Jesus demonstrated the Love of God in all He thought, said and did! John and the others were blessed just being in His Presence as willing participates!

Jesus called, equipped, and mentored all who believed and followed Him before He paid the debt for the sins of the world. For three years of ministry to the masses, Jesus not only taught and demonstrated God’s love; He became the ultimate sacrifice prompted by the love of God in Him.  John accepted, surrendered and internalized this love of God that because a part of his being.  Jesus knew and saw the love of God in Him and entrusted Mary, His earthly mother to him. 

The Good News is that God’s love, demonstrated by Jesus, passed on to John prompted is for all who believe in Him NOW!  All that John thought, said and did in the Name of Jesus was “so that the world would know” of this relentless love who is God as shown by the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus. (Read 1 John 4)  The Love of God is now in all who believe in Him and are surrendered to His will.  And we did nothing to desire or earn this love—absolutely nothing—except to believe!

God demonstrated His love in this; “while we were yet sinners; Christ died for us,” Paul writes to the church trying to grow in His love, seeking how to love each other.  Paul wrote much about the love of God, too.  Paul explained to the church then which is significant to us now!  God demonstrated His unconditional love for humanity by sending Jesus Christ to die for all the sins of the world. God forgives all who believe and repent of their sins in Jesus Name. This forgiveness of sins is completely independent of human merit or good behavior; it is only by His love, mercy, and grace for us.  Our toughest temptation is to think we must work hard doing good things in and out of church to earn His salvation; but it is only by His grace we are forgiven and set free!  Does this mean we don’t do good things, no, but we do them driven by the love of God in us—not for any other reason!

It is God’s love that is the rock-solid foundation upon which our love for each other begins and prospers.  “Love God”, the first and most important commandment, says Jesus, who continues to teach “and the second most important commandment is to love each other!”  Without the love of God flowing in and through us we cannot love others like He loves us! 

Pause, rest in the Love of God who thinks we were dying for and will love us forever!

Lord,

Thank you for teaching us your love as we internalize the truth of the depths of your love for us. Thank you for cleansing our hearts with your love. Thank you for renewing our minds with your loving thoughts. Thank you for refreshing our souls with your mercies. Thank you for allowing us to rest in your love while your work continues to mold and shape us to be all you created us to be.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

In Jesus Name, Amen

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LORD MOST HIGH!

Posted on May 29, 2026 by randscallawayffm

From the ends of the earth (ECHO)

From the depths of the sea (ECHO)

From the heights of the heavens (ECHO)

Your name be praised

From the hearts of the weak (ECHO)

From the shouts of the strong (ECHO)

From the lips of all people (ECHO)

This song we raise Lord

Throughout the endless ages

You will be crowned with praises

Lord Most High

Exalted in every nation

Sovereign of all creation

Lord Most High be magnified

Lord,

As we read your Word, we hear the choirs of heaven and earth sing your praises. May YOU alone be glorified and may all ages in all nations bow before you, echo your praises and receive your salvation—the gift that keeps on giving—forever and ever, Amen. Yes, Lord, we praise you; for you alone are worthy of all the praises of your creation!  May the rocks cry, the mountains rejoice, the flowers bend to you with thanksgiving and rivers be a sign of your forever flowing blessings of Life! May all mankind give you praise!

To you be the glory!

In Jesus Name, Amen

Psalm 61, The Message

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. Of David.

1-2 God, listen to me shout,
    bend an ear to my prayer.
When I’m far from anywhere,
    down to my last gasp,
I call out, “Guide me
    up High Rock Mountain!”

3-5 You’ve always given me breathing room,
    a place to get away from it all,
A lifetime pass to your safe-house,
    an open invitation as your guest.
You’ve always taken me seriously, God,
    made me welcome among those who know and love you.

6-8 Let the days of the king add up
    to years and years of good rule.
Set his throne in the full light of God;
    post Steady Love and Good Faith as lookouts,
And I’ll be the poet who sings your glory—
    and live what I sing every day.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

We respond with pure praise for our Lord Almighty who came to save us from our sins, heal our brokenness, making us whole and worthy to walk with our God!

Lord Most High

Exalted in every nation

Sovereign of all creation

Lord Most High be magnified

Psalm 61, NIV  The Echo of praise!

Hear my cry, O God;
    listen to my prayer.

2 From the ends of the earth I call to you,
    I call as my heart grows faint;
    lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
3 For you have been my refuge,
    a strong tower against the foe.

4 I long to dwell in your tent forever
    and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.
5 For you, God, have heard my vows;
    you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.

6 Increase the days of the king’s life,
    his years for many generations.
7 May he be enthroned in God’s presence forever;
    appoint your love and faithfulness to protect him.

8 Then I will ever sing in praise of your name
    and fulfill my vows day after day.

Yes, and Amen!

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IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BATTLE—FEAR OR FAITH?

Posted on May 28, 2026 by randscallawayffm

We have all been there and done that.  We have all been tested and tried—not necessarily as hard at the beginning or end but smack dab in the middle of it all.  We respond with either giving up and quitting the battle or we deal with it and merely endured it.  What is “it”?  Our daily skirmishes, small to large battles, living life in an imperfect world where the Enemy works overtime to distract us from God, deceive us about God, deconstruct our faith in God with the ultimate goal to disengage us from God so He can destroy our faith in God.  It seems it is the hardest right in the middle of the battle then our strength is weakening and our resolve is waning.  We grow faint and weary in the war with our Enemy until we realize the war has already been won!  These daily skirmishes are mere distractions the enemy uses so we will look at him and all he throws at us instead of looking up to our Almighty God who as said repeatedly, “You need only to be still, I will fight this battle for you”.  And God’s people respond; “Oh yes, I forgot—faith over fear wins every time!”

“Being still” has to be repeatedly explained in our world of hurry to complete our self-made lists of “to dos”.  We are obsessive at times with accomplishing what we think will make us feel better as we try to make our family and friends feel better, thinking we will make our world better. “It’s all up to us, or the world will come apart at the seams!” we think.  What a lie! That is the talk of the evil one who consistently whispers in our ear that we must push, pull, and drag our way into a world where others are doing the same thing.  We demand our own way so we can “have it all” because we “deserve it all”. (Yes, another lie!) If we are slow to doing what evil suggests then he increases the heat of battle with invading our thought life with how inadequate we are along with getting su to believe we are nothing of value in this world.  How sad when we fall for these repeated lies of evil.

But God says, “Be still and know that I AM God”. These wordscome from the very heart of God to David’s heart in a beautiful song of praise for God.  Be still in the language used in Psalm 46:10 translates to “let go”.  Let go of you and what you want. Be still long enough in my Presence, says God to stop thinking about all that is on your plate because of all that is on your mind and then you can concentrate on knowing who I really am. God desires a forever relationship with His beloved.  We who believe are His beloved, who are cherished, and loved without conditions!

But in the middle of the battle, do we remember who God is and who we are to God?

Psalm 60, The Message

For the director of music. To the tune of “The Lily of the Covenant.” A miktam of David. For teaching. When he fought Aram Naharaim and Aram Zobah, and when Joab returned and struck down twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

1-2 God! you walked off and left us,
    kicked our defenses to bits
And stomped off angry.
    Come back. Oh please, come back!

You shook earth to the foundations,
    ripped open huge crevasses.
Heal the breaks! Everything’s
    coming apart at the seams.

3-5 You made your people look doom in the face,
    then gave us cheap wine to drown our troubles.
Then you planted a flag to rally your people,
    an unfurled flag to look to for courage.
Now do something quickly, answer right now,
    so the one you love best is saved.

6-8 That’s when God spoke in holy splendor,
    “Bursting with joy,
I make a present of Shechem,
    I hand out Succoth Valley as a gift.
Gilead’s in my pocket,
    to say nothing of Manasseh.
Ephraim’s my hard hat,
    Judah my hammer;
Moab’s a scrub bucket,
    I mop the floor with Moab,
Spit on Edom,
    rain fireworks all over Philistia.”

9-10 Who will take me to the thick of the fight?
    Who’ll show me the road to Edom?
You aren’t giving up on us, are you, God?
    refusing to go out with our troops?

11-12 Give us help for the hard task;
    human help is worthless.
In God we’ll do our very best;
    he’ll flatten the opposition for good.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

BACKGROUND:  The plural pronouns indicate that David was speaking to the Lord for the Israelites who felt themselves abandoned by God in the middle of the battle against unbelieving nations.

In the middle of the battle who is conquering who? 

Being a man of faith, David didn’t give up but rallied God’s people around the Lord’s banner (v. 4). When the enemy is close to conquering; we read throughout His word, how God sends “cheerleaders” and “coaches” to His people to teach them to remember that God is as One who keeps His promises.  Israel’s God is Jehovah-nissi—which means “the LORD is my banner” (see Exodus 17:15).

David knew that Israel was God’s own people, His beloved people (the name “David” means “beloved”) who feared Him, and that God had covenanted to give them success against their enemies (2 Samuel 7:9–11). In David’s heart, faith was conquering fear.

“Be still and know that I am God” is the best response to have and to hold for when we read the rest of Psalm 46, we are taught that God also says, “I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” David, man after the heart of God then adds in Psalm 46:11, “The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”  The battle with evil, our real Enemy, belongs to the Lord. And He will settle it in victory once and for all! —And he did!

Jesus is the reason we live today with faith over fear for He is Life!  Be the one who is God’s blessing to someone today with Truth.

“The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped.” Proverbs 11:25, MSG

Lord,

Thank you for your words of wisdom with reminders once again of who you are with who we are in You.  Cleanse our hearts and remove all that does not belong there. Deliver us from evil in our battles with evil.  Renew our minds with your higher thoughts of Truth. Refresh our souls with your new tender, fresh mercies. Restore the joy and peace of your salvation at work within us as we grow our intimate, loving relationship with you.  To You be all glory, honor, and praise! Forever and ever, Amen!

In Jesus Name, Amen

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LYING IN WAIT, EVIL POSES TO STRIKE; BUT GOD KNOWS

Posted on May 27, 2026 by randscallawayffm

Our enemies today can rise up anywhere at any time when we least expect it.  As the many followers of Jesus learned, the devil uses people in ways that can fool as they masquerade as God’s people.  But the masquerade is soon found out as evil strikes from behind with gossip, slander, and betrayal.  Most often our enemies are those who befriended us when no one else did and told us whatever we wanted to hear.  But these same people also work in dark corners against us, making false claims about us behind our backs, all to persuade others to do the same. This is evil at work. His methods haven’t changed, therefore Satan is really pretty easy to spot.

Those led and taught by the evil one to be as sly and cunning as he, come forward with smiles on their faces, gifts in their hands, but with evil in their hearts.  It is a foolish way to live for their foolish ways are led by pride, arrogance, and hate, manipulated by the Enemy of God.  With limited power, our Enemy is soon found out for God is always at work for his beloved—not against them. God never sleeps.  God knows what is going on in the hearts of all who follow His Enemy from the beginning of creation.  And for sure, God has not and never will, give up His Sovereignty over all His creation!

We need to remind ourselves that our enemies are not those who personalities grate on our nerves or merely disagree with us on any given subject at hand but still believe in Jesus as their Savior. They, like us, just require extra grace in being with them. 

No, enemies are those who do not like us because we believe, trust, and obey God above all. Enemies are people who are led by evil to take us down by whatever means necessary to distract, deceive, and deconstruct our faith.  These are the people we pray for and ask God to help them see who He so they can be saved from the evil they follow. For our real enemy is the enemy of God—Satan, the fallen angel, kicked out of heaven for wanting to be God and take over.  Truly, the Apostle Paul clarifies who is our real enemy with how to combat Him in Jesus Name;


“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”—Paul to the church in Ephesus.  Ephesians 6:10-13 

David is standing on the promises of God to deliver him from the same enemy who has taken over King Saul’s entire being.

Psalm 59, The Message

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam. When Saul had sent men to watch David’s house in order to kill him.

1-2 My God! Rescue me from my enemies,
    defend me from these mutineers.
Rescue me from their dirty tricks,
    save me from their hit men.

3-4 Desperadoes have ganged up on me,
    they’re hiding in ambush for me.
I did nothing to deserve this, God,
    crossed no one, wronged no one.
All the same, they’re after me,
    determined to get me.

4-5 Wake up and see for yourself! You’re God,
    God-of-Angel-Armies, Israel’s God!
Get on the job and take care of these pagans,
    don’t be soft on these hard cases.

6-7  They return when the sun goes down,
    They howl like coyotes, ringing the city.
    Then suddenly they’re all at the gate,
    Snarling invective, drawn daggers in their teeth.
    They think they’ll never get caught.

8-10 But you, God, break out laughing;
    you treat the godless nations like jokes.
Strong God, I’m watching you do it,
    I can always count on you.
God in dependable love shows up on time,
    shows me my enemies in ruin.

11-13 Don’t make quick work of them, God,
    lest my people forget.
Bring them down in slow motion,
    take them apart piece by piece.
Let all their mean-mouthed arrogance
    catch up with them,
Catch them out and bring them down
    —every muttered curse
    —every barefaced lie.
Finish them off in fine style!
    Finish them off for good!
Then all the world will see
    that God rules well in Jacob,
    everywhere that God’s in charge.

14-15     They return when the sun goes down,
    They howl like coyotes, ringing the city.
    They scavenge for bones,
    And bite the hand that feeds them.

16-17 And me? I’m singing your prowess,
    shouting at dawn your largesse,
For you’ve been a safe place for me,
    a good place to hide.
Strong God, I’m watching you do it,
    I can always count on you—
    God, my dependable love.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Do we have the faith of David who knows God will deliver us from evil always!  David goes to God because he counts on God!  David knows where real strength is found—only in his Almighty God who overcomes all evil who is lying in wait to destroy him, for evil has already taken over the mind of King Saul!

Confident David sings songs of praise while God does all the heavy lifting of fighting his battles against evil!

How confident are we in our daily encounters with evil?

Let’s trust God.  If you need more proven truth, read His Word provided for us for God’s Word does not contradict itself. We can depend on God for He is “the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). And because He is the Lord, he “will be the sure foundation for our times” says the prophet Isaiah. (Isaiah 33:6).

Therefore, stand firm on the foundation laid before us by Jesus Christ our Lord whom God sent to remove the sins of the world for all who believe Him with the bonus of eternal life!  (John 3:16)  Evil, who lies in wait for us, only offers death.  Jesus is Life!

Choose wisely, this day, who you will follow, adore, love, listen to, trust, and obey for this is a matter of life or death.

Lord,

Thank you for saving my soul and making me whole. Thank you for fighting this battle of evil against me as you deliver me from evil’s schemes. Thank you for the foundation upon which to stand firm in Truth—who is You.  And when it gets hard, thank you for giving all the power and strength needed to stand firm still and be still before you, our Overcomer of evil.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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GAMEPLAYERS CANNOT OVERCOME GOD

Posted on May 26, 2026 by randscallawayffm

Warren Wiersbe explains the Psalmist plea for mercy when life is overwhelmed by politicians and gameplayers who do not know, or care to know, God.  They demand to be in control while satisfying their own needs with evil ways. Other people do not matter because there is no love of God in them.  Wiersbe writes;

“David addressed the lawless leaders and asked them whether their words were just, their decisions legal, their sentences fair, and their silences honest. Were they upholding the law and defending the righteous or twisting the law and benefiting the wicked? He knew the answer, and so do we. When they should have spoken, they were silent, and when they spoke, they ignored God’s law. The problem? They had evil hearts, for they were born in sin just like the rest of us (Psalm 51:5; Genesis 8:21). However, they made no effort to seek God’s help in controlling that sinful nature but gave in to its evil impulses. It’s because humans are sinners that God established government and law, for without law, society would be in chaos. It’s from the heart that evil words come out of our mouths and evil deeds are done by our hands.” –Wiersbe Study Bible

Psalm 58, The Message

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.

1-2 Is this any way to run a country?
    Is there an honest politician in the house?
Behind the scenes you weave webs of deceit,
    behind closed doors you make deals with demons.

3-5 The wicked crawl from the wrong side of the cradle;
    their first words out of the womb are lies.
Poison, lethal rattlesnake poison,
    drips from their forked tongues—
Deaf to threats, deaf to charm,
    decades of wax built up in their ears.

6-9 God, smash their teeth to bits,
    leave them toothless tigers.
Let their lives be buckets of water spilled,
    all that’s left, a damp stain in the sand.
Let them be trampled grass
    worn smooth by the traffic.
Let them dissolve into snail slime,
    be a miscarried fetus that never sees sunlight.
Before what they cook up is half-done, God,
    throw it out with the garbage!

10-11 The righteous will call up their friends
    when they see the wicked get their reward,
Serve up their blood in goblets
    as they toast one another,
Everyone cheering, “It’s worth it to play by the rules!
    God’s handing out trophies and tending the earth!”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

It is easy to believe today that choices are plentiful in our world!  Go to Walmart, for example, there are aisles of choices of name brands and generic brands, types to fit all humans, along with price points with many sizes of products for just caring for our hair! Need I remind us that God knows how many hairs are on our head on any given day? He probably even knows which shampoo is best! We are led like sheep to these aisles of choices by the media and spoken testimonies of stars.  But do they really use these products or are they just being paid to say what compels us buy their product?  I’ll let you decide—for you do have a choice!

On one of my many mission trips to Haiti; I was given the opportunity to escort a pastor, his son and young daughter to the United States.  It was to be their first visit to my world of choices!.  It was amazing to watch and be ready for their reaction to our world of choices!  From a place of only one choice, if you can get it at all, to a store of overwhelming choices I saw through their eyes the many things in our world that I took for granted. They were also overwhelmed with new technology of escalators, toilets that flushed, and water running plentiful from faucets to clean up not to mention the plane ride that took us quickly to our destination!  The kids’ eyes grew large with seeing the first McDonalds but overwhelmed with the choices there, too.  What do I eat when I haven’t tried anything on the menu in front of me? 

I was also weirdly saddened by our country’s seemingly unlimited choices placed in front of my beautiful friends whose souls were committed to Jesus first and whose daily choice was Jesus as Savior and Lord of their lives.  I felt like an accomplice to evil in a way as I introduced them to a world of choices that would overwhelm anyone seeing it for the first time.  “Don’t let it overwhelm you; you don’t need all that is put in front of you!” I would think and say out loud to the young ones in my care. My first reaction in fact was to shield them from all that was being thrown at them at once.  That reaction surprised even me!

Is that what God/Jesus/Holy Spirit living in us is trying to do when we are overwhelmed with all the choices put in front of us daily when there is only one choice for Life that is truly needed?  Shield and protect us—yes!

Paul explains the choice we make daily between God or evil.  Even the Apostle Paul had to be on his toes to choose wisely.  Paul is spiritually motivated by his relationship found only in Jesus with God.  Paul knows there are really only two choices in this life.  All other choices stem from our decision follow God who is Good or evil.  To Paul, his former life of following his will and his own ways was a dark, nasty garbage way of life in which he chose not to return.  He writes;

“Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!

Pressing toward the Goal

I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” Philippians 3:8-14

God, through Jesus, did for Paul what Paul could not do for himself; redeem Paul of all his sins and shortcomings.  Paul chose God first and when he did, like all believers in Jesus, he received the power and wisdom from God’s Holy Spirit living in him to guide him in all decisions.  Was Paul perfect then?  No, but he was perfectly forgiven as he pursued a perfect God daily.

That same God, same Jesus, same Holy Spirit does that for us—no matter the sin—for there is nothing we have done that God will not forgive.  But we need to choose Him first! We need to surrender daily to His will as we pursue Him. As we do our trust and faith in Him matures, grows and bears the fruits of God’s character that affects all other decisions we make on any given day!  We will always be a “work in progress” until we see Jesus face to face.  I can handle being “in progress”, knowing God is working on me, can’t you?

Who we are in Jesus will be proven in what we will do in our daily decisions. 

“A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”—Jesus, Luke 6:45

So, Good News!  God is more interested in our pursuit of Him than in our desire to be perfect!  What a relief! So be with God before doing in Jesus Name!  Surrender to His holy, pleasing and perfect will for us.  (Romans 12:1-2) This is a LIFE choice that we will never regret!

Lord,

I surrender all to you again today.  I desire what you desire for me.  You are God. I am not.  I offer my life as an offering to you.  I place it before you God as an offering of sacrifice. I want to embrace and thank you for all you have done, are doing, and will do for me for it is the best thing I can do for you—to live in gratitude with a surrendered heart. I choose you not the culture around me that tries to mold and shape me to be less than who you are in me. Instead, I will fix my attention on You. 

My desire is for you to transform me from the inside out. Help me to readily recognize what you want from me so I will quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around me, with a plethora of choices, always dragging me down to its level of immaturity, bring the best out of me as you develop a well-formed maturity of faith in and through me. Use me as your instrument that shares the Good News of the greatest relationship we will ever have on earth and into eternity!

In Jesus Name, Amen

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WAKE UP TO GOD’S LOVE AND CARE!

Posted on May 25, 2026 by randscallawayffm

Psalm 57, The Message

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam. When he had fled from Saul into the cave.

1-3 Be good to me, God—and now!
    I’ve run to you for dear life.
I’m hiding out under your wings
    until the hurricane blows over.
I call out to High God,
    the God who holds me together.
He sends orders from heaven and saves me,
    he humiliates those who kick me around.
God delivers generous love,
    he makes good on his word.

4 I find myself in a pride of lions
    who are wild for a taste of human flesh;
Their teeth are lances and arrows,
    their tongues are sharp daggers.

5 Soar high in the skies, O God!
    Cover the whole earth with your glory!

6 They booby-trapped my path;
    I thought I was dead and done for.
They dug a mantrap to catch me,
    and fell in headlong themselves.

7-8 I’m ready, God, so ready,
    ready from head to toe,
Ready to sing, ready to raise a tune:
    “Wake up, soul!
Wake up, harp! wake up, lute!
    Wake up, you sleepyhead sun!”

9-10 I’m thanking you, God, out loud in the streets,
    singing your praises in town and country.
The deeper your love, the higher it goes;
    every cloud is a flag to your faithfulness.

11 Soar high in the skies, O God!
    Cover the whole earth with your glory!

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Even while running and hiding from the enemy, do we realize we are never alone?

Background:  David wrote Psalm 56 when the Philistines captured him in Gath (see 1Samuel 21:10–15 for the full story). He wrote Psalm 57 while hiding in a cave.  David nearly always begins with his distressed cries for help—seeing only his reality; but then he also ends his songs with praise to God who is real, who is truth, and who never leaves or forsakes him in battle with enemy giants and kings.  Get this—

When David pauses to talk with God he realized God’s realty and Truth—David is not alone.  God is trustworthy. He is a rock, a hiding place, a fortress. God loves, leads, shelters us then sends us back into battle with evil by His power working within us that also serves to build our faith!  Yes, there is no one like our God!

It’s time for us to awaken our souls to this truth about God:  We have safety and comfort in Him who never leaves us with a love that is relentless and never changes for us! This is the reality in which we live as believers. Is we do not and rely on our power and control; we are mere chums of fresh bait to the sharks of evil who do not know God.

We all can relate to David in the cave.  We can almost hear the echo of David’s sweet voice singing quietly to God in desperation; “Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed” (Psalm 57:1, NIV). 

Our response:  When life gets hard, let us look to our refuge and Deliverer—God through Jesus Christ, His Son.  Jesus told his disciples then and speaks truth to us now; “in this world you will have trouble; but relax, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) The reality of a True Believer in Jesus we are never alone. We will have troubles but we have a Savior and Lord who is already at work on our behalf because He is the Victor over all circumstances, roadblocks, and obstacles in the way for all who put all their faith in Him call on His Name! 

A favorite gospel song of my childhood which still come to mind when I am worried over the things of this life is “Just a Little talk with Jesus makes it Right”.  My “little talk” happens daily.  (Romans 12:1-2) How long the talk and listen takes depends on how worried I am and how long it takes for me to surrender my will to God’s will!  Either way, the chorus speaks truth;

“Now let us have a little talk with Jesus
   Let us tell Him all about our troubles
   He will hear our faintest cry
   He will answer by and by
   Now when you feel a little prayer wheel turning
   And you know a little fire is burning
   You will find a little talk with Jesus makes it right…”

Lord,

Thank you for David and other songwriters who praise you with Truth!  In a world of lies, letdowns, and putdowns, it is so refreshing to hear from you what is real and right. Thank you for your love beyond all measure!  I’m yours and I’m listening.  Transform my life to be more like you in every way.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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